# Why was/is the Army silent? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 2, 2014, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-is-the-army-silent/689804 "2014-06-02T02:35:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![SanDiegoTim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@SanDiegoTim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanDiegoTim)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2014, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-is-the-army-silent/689804/1 "2014-06-02T02:35:03Z")
When that soldier, the one just traded for the five Gitmo prisoners, left his base in Afghanistan, the circumstances were never firmly publicized, or at least identified by the Army. Don’t know why there would be any question as to why this remains unclear. The Army is still silent. At the very least, and considering his well-publicized anti-U. S. Army email/text to his father, his disappearance is certainly suspicious. Your thoughts? ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2014, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-is-the-army-silent/689804/2 "2014-06-02T02:38:44Z")
Since the OP is asking for opinions, let’s move this to IMHO. Colibri General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2014, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-is-the-army-silent/689804/3 "2014-06-02T02:56:14Z")
The military has a strong command structure. Speak out publicly and your career is over. What ever this guy did is buried deeply in the files. Also the military avoids politics at all costs. They aren’t going to raise troubling questions about this guy’s loyalities or his actions. The Commander in Chief made a decision and they’ll play along. I seriously doubt any inquiry will be made. We gave up 5 important prisoners for this guy. He’ll get a heroes welcome home. ---
**Author:** ![nevadaexile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb8c5e/32.png) [@nevadaexile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nevadaexile)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2014, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-is-the-army-silent/689804/4 "2014-06-02T03:04:19Z")
The military didn’t call him a deserter; he’s always been referred to as a prisoner of war. So whatever he “did” it wasn’t a violation of the UCMJ (the Uniformed Code of Military Justice, the regulations governing military members) or if it was, it was a minor infraction which was outweighed by his being captured. He’s safe and he’s coming home. Unless he decides to break his silence, then the matter is settled and I’m happy for him and his family. ---
**Author:** ![SanDiegoTim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@SanDiegoTim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanDiegoTim)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2014, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-is-the-army-silent/689804/5 "2014-06-02T03:14:09Z")
All I’ve read is that there are three possible explanations and the Army is mum on all. Somebody knows, but for whatever reason, it’s being held close to the vest. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2014, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-is-the-army-silent/689804/6 "2014-06-02T04:14:01Z")
> [@SanDiegoTim](#): > > All I’ve read is that there are three possible explanations and the Army is mum on all. Somebody knows, but for whatever reason, it’s being held close to the vest. Which suggests that the truth is embarrassing to the Army. Remember how the incidents involving Pat Tillman and Jessica Lynch were handled. Don’t get me wrong; I’m glad he’s home safe and his father can finally shave, but if only for the sake of the soldiers who died looking for him, I think there should be some sort of inquiry. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2014, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-is-the-army-silent/689804/7 "2014-06-02T05:50:14Z")
I didn’t realize soldiers died looking for this guy. Their families deserve to know the truth. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2014, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-is-the-army-silent/689804/8 "2014-06-02T06:01:28Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I didn’t realize soldiers died looking for this guy. Their families deserve to know the truth. Their families deserve to know as much as the military can tell them without revealing sensitive information. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2014, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-is-the-army-silent/689804/9 "2014-06-02T06:22:22Z")
Another factor is that until they’ve had a chance to speak with Sgt Bergdahl, it would be unjust to accuse him of misconduct. ---
**Author:** ![Chihuahua](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dec6dc/32.png) [@Chihuahua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chihuahua)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2014, 6:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-is-the-army-silent/689804/10 "2014-06-02T06:55:31Z")
When I was in RC-E, our PMO had the biggest binder I’d ever seen on his shelf, labelled “BOWE BERGDAHL 15-6.” I wanted to read it very, very badly. It was like five inches thick. But there was no plausible way I could have sat there reading something that was, in all honesty, none of my beeswax. But I’ve spoken with some knowledgeable people and they agree something very fishy was going on. They stop short of calling him a straight-up defector. But a lot of the reasons given so far are correct. The Army won’t comment on an unresolved investigation, won’t contradict the C-in-C, and most of all won’t accuse a POW of being a defector. That would just look bad for all involved. It will be very interesting to see what comes out of this. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2014, 10:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-is-the-army-silent/689804/11 "2014-06-02T10:11:52Z")
The military may not get away with sweeping this under the rug. CNN has a scathing article from men that served with Bergdahl. I’ll be interested in seeing how this plays out. > **[Fellow soldiers call Bowe Bergdahl a deserter, not a hero | CNN](https://www.cnn.com/2014/06/01/us/bergdahl-deserter-or-hero/index.html?hpt=hp_t2)** > > Some of the veterans and soldiers who served with Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl call him a deserter whose “selfish act” ended up costing the lives of better men. > [@](#): > > Former Pfc. Jose Baggett, 27, of Chicago, was also in Blackfoot Company, and said he was close to two men “killed because of his (Bergdahl’s) actions.” > > “He walked off,” Baggett told CNN. "He left his guard post. Nobody knows if he defected or he’s a traitor or he was kidnapped. What I do know is he was there to protect us and instead he decided to defer from America and go and do his own thing. > [@](#): > > Moreover, other operations were put on hold while the search for Bergdahl was made a top priority, according to officers who served in Afghanistan in that time. Manpower and assets – such as scarce surveillance drones and helicopters – were redirected to the hunt. The lack of assets is one reason the closure of a dangerous combat outpost, COP Keating, was delayed. Eight soldiers were killed at COP Keating before it was ultimately closed. ---
**Author:** ![Poysyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Poysyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poysyn)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2014, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-is-the-army-silent/689804/12 "2014-06-02T17:41:14Z")
No one will (or should) comment (officially) on an ongoing investigation - if charges are laid, those will be public record and once judgment is passed, that should also be public. This is to protect the integrity of the investigation. Sometimes that can be difficult - there have been a number of cases I can recall where the families of the accused are being quite critical towards the military in the media and I have proof at my fingertips that we are not at fault, but I can’t say anything due to privacy concerns and OpSec. At least, if things work the same down there in the US. - Canadian Armed Forces Public Affairs Officer ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2014, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-is-the-army-silent/689804/13 "2014-06-02T18:06:43Z")
He may have been a deserter, but this should have no bearing on whether or not the President and military leadership try to get his release. Exchanging prisoners might be a bad idea, but any alleged crimes of Bergdahl have nothing to do with whether it was wise or not. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2014, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-is-the-army-silent/689804/14 "2014-06-02T18:08:23Z")
His parents have obviously been kept informed of more than they’re allowed to say, too. ---
**Author:** ![What\_the](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f4b2a3/32.png) [@What\_the](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_the)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2014, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-is-the-army-silent/689804/15 "2014-06-03T12:46:30Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > He may have been a deserter, but this should have no bearing on whether or not the President and military leadership try to get his release. Exchanging prisoners might be a bad idea, but any alleged crimes of Bergdahl have nothing to do with whether it was wise or not. His status as an “official” POW or not should have something to do with it. If he was a kidnapped businessman that would have made a dif don’t you think?. I do agree that his alleged “crimes” should not be treated as proven until he gets back and (hopefully) faces a court-martial. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2014, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-is-the-army-silent/689804/16 "2014-06-03T13:08:26Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > His parents have obviously been kept informed of more than they’re allowed to say, too. Allowed by who? They may have been convinced to keep things out of the press but no one has the authority to keep them silent. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2014, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-is-the-army-silent/689804/17 "2014-06-03T13:14:39Z")
Allowed by their own senses of responsibility, knowing what they do, which would include any potential legal consequences for in some way interfering with the legal process. I think you understand that. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2014, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-is-the-army-silent/689804/18 "2014-06-03T13:18:16Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Allowed by their own senses of responsibility, knowing what they do, which would include any potential legal consequences for in some way interfering with the legal process. > > I think you understand that. I understand it. It was an odd turn of phrase. More accurately it would be _His parents have obviously been kept informed of more than they’re willing to say, too._ The way you wrote it implies so outside influence or gag order. ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2014, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-is-the-army-silent/689804/19 "2014-06-03T13:20:39Z")
“Deserter”, llke “Child Molestor” is a paint that, once splashed, Never comes off. If his career in the army is over, then its over… but do you think any employer will now hire him? Ever? Even if he is 100% innocent and simply viciously maligned by political hacks trying to make election in-roads, his life is over. He’ll never be able to support himself or anyone else. It would have been more merciful if you’d given him a .45, one round, and 5 minutes of privacy. PS- Anyone who is a Veteran should take note: with the wrong people having the right incentive, Bergdahl’s shoes could be Yours. The people who payed for the “Swift Boaters” only ever have your back when they need target practice. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2014, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-is-the-army-silent/689804/20 "2014-06-03T13:35:35Z")
> [@Count\_Blucher](#): > > “Deserter”, llke “Child Molestor” is a paint that, once splashed, Never comes off. If his career in the army is over, then its over… but do you think any employer will now hire him? Ever? > Even if he is 100% innocent and simply viciously maligned by political hacks trying to make election in-roads, his life is over. He’ll never be able to support himself or anyone else. > It would have been more merciful if you’d given him a .45, one round, and 5 minutes of privacy. > > PS- Anyone who is a Veteran should take note: with the wrong people having the right incentive, Bergdahl’s shoes could be Yours. > The people who payed for the “Swift Boaters” only ever have your back when they need target practice. Here’s the thing. From the outside this backlash might seem to be sudden and unwarranted. Probably politically motivated. For those of us in the Army this is anything but sudden. I have been hearing from those involved about his desertion for 5 years. This was no swiftboating (or its the slowest swiftboat I have ever seen). This is not making up stories for political gain. We are talking about soldiers who bled and died to find him. Now they are afraid that he will be treated like a hero and a PR stunt. Just because most of the public was unaware of the circumstances before a few days ago does not mean it was secret. These are not the “wrong people” (I believe you are implying politicians with an agenda) these are his fellow soldiers. In case you are wondering I have no first hand knowledge. I got back from Iraq about a month prior to his capture. I was not in Afghanistan. But I have spoken to several with first hand knowledge. I believe them. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-is-the-army-silent/689804.md?page=2)